“Somewhere Lost in Tokyo”
Tokyo, Japan. November 2018 – February 2019. (17 photos)
This is part 15 of my Japan 2018-19 photo series.
This post completes a trilogy of Lost in Tokyo posts, with the others: Lost in Tokyo and Lost in Tokyo (2).
Japan has an estimated population of about 127 million, and approximately 13.8 million live in Tokyo. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world with over 38 million people. The city of Tokyo has no true CBD but has often been described as several cities in close proximity joined by an efficient railway system. Whether you’re lost within the human crush, dwarfed by the skyscrapers, immersed in the local culture, taken by the serenity of the shrines, adapting to local customs or simply lost in translation, it’s easy to get lost in Tokyo and that is perhaps the best way to discover and experience it. Here are some photos from my 16 days worth of wanderings, somewhere lost in Tokyo…
That’s the well known Shibuya Crossing in the photo above at a relatively quiet time of a weekend morning. Still, there’s a few people! around. Despite waiting for a while that sign only came up a couple of times again while cars were going through the Crossing, so I moved on.
“Hipanda”
“Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower”
A 50 storey educational facility in Shinjuku.
“The colours of Japan”
At the Toyokawa inari Shrine.
“9:08pm Shibuya station’
Signs on the ground tell you where to stand and which door and carriage you will be entering.
“Somewhere lost in Koenji”
“The Golden Gai”
The Golden Gai consists of six tiny alleys in Shinjuku lined by almost two hundred tiny bars, most only a few feet wide in ramshackle buildings, a world away in ambience from the rest of Shinjuku.
“Underground”
The first time I encountered this tunnel there were a couple of fashion shoots happening. I made a point to return later.
“Somewhere lost in Ueno”
“Smoking Kills”
If you’re into manga/anime those “characters” in the background may have some meaning to you.
“Lost in Tokyo”
Actually the Tokyo rail and subway system is incredibly easy to use, once you get used to it.
“Shinjuku Nights”
“A step back in time”
At the Togo Shrine.
“Snowfall in Shibuya”
Scrambling is an art form.
“That’s life”
“Get happy”
“Godzilla meets Draco”
… and Tokyo survived.
I’ll conclude my series of posts about Japan with the next post.
…
This is part 15 of my Japan 2018-19 photo series.
Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera 
Love your silhouetted figures in the underground!
Thank you very much. This became my favourite subway exit. Great photographic potential.
Excellent!
Going back on different days paid off. 🙂
Street photography at its best!
You’re too kind. Thank you very much.
Love it. For such a busy city, it looks peaceful and colorful.
Thanks. Yes, there is the other side to the coin, and it isn’t too hard to find. Same anywhere. I suppose.
Really enjoyed this series of Japan. What stands out to me from your photos is the vivid colours all over Tokyo – and also busyness, organisation and simplicity all blended together.
So you survived Godzilla. I was wondering how many you encountered 🙂
Thanks. I had a great time exploring (and eating) around Tokyo. With all the manga and “characters” around, it does add colour to the city.
2 Godzilla statues, 1 King Kong statue , 2 Ultramar statues, countless anime/manga based statues, the list goes on. The giant Godzilla statue at the Godzilla Hotel actually roared. When I heard it on the street, it was like being part of a movie. 🙂
Now you got me wondered what you ate in Tokyo. Maybe you found something as good as a croissant 🙂
Oh wow, one of the Godzilla statues roars. Now I need to see that when I go to Japan 🙂
It’s at the top of the Gracery Hotel and in the 5th last photo in my post Tokyo Life. Just google Godzilla Hotel for more information. Everyone (including taxi drivers) knows it by that name. I even considered staying there. 🙂 🙂 🙂
There are countless great food offerings in Tokyo from omurice to high end omakase sushi. I ate it all. If you need food recommendations before you go, please let me know.
If you stayed at Godzilla Hotel maybe you would hear it roar all night long 🙂
Thanks for the tips, Dragon. Japan is definitely on my to-visit list. From the sounds of it, you have very good taste in Japanese food – and I am guessing you did not have sushi with avocado 🙂 🙂 🙂
Now that you mention it, I don’t recall having avocado in any of my sushi. Funny that. 🙂 You’ll love the food there.
I heard that everything in the subway is written in Japanese.
Another great post. Wonderfully lost…
Half true. Yes, everything is in Japanese, but also in English. That includes announcements on trains. It really is a very easy and efficient transport system to use.
Thanks, being lost in Tokyo wass quite fun.
For us too. Thanks for sharing.
Can’t wait for the next series.
I’m glad you enjoyed the tour. I’ll do a final Japan post next week, then move onto my New Zealand visit from a couple of weeks ago.
Not going anywhere.
In that case, see you next week, somewhere in Japan. 🙂
Deal.
🙂
Your eye for photography is stunning! Whether its still or moving…you are “spot on!”
Thank you very much.
You make getting lost so much fun!
Thanks, it was fun. Glad you could enjoy “tagging along”. 🙂
OMG! A gaijin bike, it can’t stand straight!
LOL. But it is interesting how nationalistic Japan is. I think I was in Japan for about 4 days before I saw a non-Japanese car brand.
I like the “Smoking Kills” signs. A very creative way to grab the attention of people, especially One Piece fans! 🙂
The sign instantly caught my eye. It didn’t seem out of place in Harajuku.
Oh, to be lost in Tokyo. Your images are thoroughly engaging (as usual). It’s an ultra busy city visually, but you are able to isolate gems.
Thank you, Sally. The hidden treasures of a city are what I like to try to find. It makes a visit to a metropolis much more personal.
Love the happy couple, contrasting so well with all those miserable expressions in the rain. 🙂 🙂 A good Easter break, Draco?
Thanks, Jo. Their smiles warmed me up. Kind of how I felt successfully negotiating Shibuya Crossing in peak hour. 🙂
Yes, it was a happy and relaxing Easter, thank you. Not as exciting as yours though.
I so enjoyed this series of Japan – thank you for being out there and taking us to “your” places.
It’s my pleasure to show you around. Tokyo is a vibrant city with lots to discover.
🌹
🙂
Love your pictures: they speak louder than words!
Thank you very much. I hope my photos are helping you in anticipating your own trip in a couple of months.
Again you show us such fascinating and brilliant pictures! Thank you!
Glad you liked them. Thank you so much.
Fabulous, as usual, Draco-San. I could stare at those colorful lit up signs all day. And Godzilla! I’m sure he was impressed by you.
Thanks so much. Nights in Tokyo (and Osaka) are a completely different atmosphere to day with all those signs, some even with audio. It’s the ultimate city for bright lights.
I forgot to say that Godzilla and I ended up best friends and even went to a ramen restaurant together. Sadly The Kraken couldn’t accept our invite. 🙂
My gosh, what a Dynamic Duo. Tokyo will never be the same.😎
Fortunately it was around Halloween in Tokyo so we didn’t look out of place. LOL 🙂
Is it possible to look out of place in Tokyo?
My bad. LOL 🙂
Thoroughly enjoying your Japan series, LD. You’ve captured many vibrant scenes.
Thanks, Jane. Japan offers so many fabulous cultural and photographic opportunities as you well know and experienced yourself. And I keep learning about more incredible things to see/do there. A third trip is a definite possibility. 🙂
Getting lost seem to be the best way to find this fascinating land.
It’s a good strategy, I think. 🙂
How did you manage to spot the way you could get the fixed faces looking at you in focus and the others in a blur? It makes for an incredible shot.
We used the subway when we were in Japan and we did get lost, but it was worth it! Reading the comments above, I wanted to mention we found it quite easy to look out of place in Tokyo. 🙂
I shot that indoors with a longish exposure. That way anyone moving will be a blur and anyone standing still will be relatively in focus. The important thing is to stay still or everything will be blurred – I think I was leaning back on a wall. I might have even coughed to deliberately get someone’s attention. 🙂
I saw a caucasian man on a train, with green hair, yellow beard, neon jacket, stretch pants and a panda backpack, and hardly anyone gave him a glance. I shudder to think how you were dressed to look out of place. LOL 🙂 🙂 🙂 Yes, I understand what you mean.
I love how you have taken photos of people and buildings and they turn out fabulous. I do the same and it’s just wrong!!!
Thanks. Practice makes perfect. 🙂
I love reading up on people’s Japan experience. I lived there and reminisce fondly on the many solo adventures I had taken.
I know many people who have been there, and not one didn’t have a great time there. It’s a fabulous country.
Ah yes, Shibuya Crossing… I saw that in a video recently… I can’t imagine crossing that. Perhaps it looks more complex than it is?
I loved the one guy in the subway crowd looking directly at you… the expression is “are YOU taking photos?!!” And nobody else cared!
I love all the lights in the street… have always loved grand street illuminations… although perhaps it’s difficult to sleep with all those flashing tubes? I wish we had more where I live… nowhere near enough for my night life light addiction! 😎
Really enjoying your Japan posts. If I was able to, I’d love to visit Japan.
Thanks, Suzy. Tokyo at night is so completely different to daytime. It just feels so exciting and vibrant with all the signs and lights, and everything is open late. There’s no trick to Shibuya Crossing. Just walk and try not to bump into anyone. Quite exhilarating really in peak hours. 🙂